August 2017 Chapter Meeting

Walking the Appalachian Trail is an experience that has been well documented by many who have attempted or completed the journey, though each person “hikes their own hike” and has a unique story. Kelly Conway (Baby Steps) and her husband Bill Pyle (Daddy Long Legs) enjoyed the adventure of their lives, and checked off a bucket list item in 2014, by through-hiking the entire (2,185.3 miles) Appalachian Trail. It required 8 months away from home, crossed 14 states and gave them a real appreciation for a hot shower, a home cooked meal, a roof overhead, and a good mattress!

The Appalachian Trail journey is clearly a project endeavor with a finite start, completion, and distinct schedule milestones. The project required upfront Planning and daily Monitoring & Controlling during Execution. There is a defined Scope and Budget/Cost to be managed, a unique Quality that is expected of the experience, clear Risks to be mitigated, and lots of items to be Procured (prior to start and weekly thereafter). Not to mention the pure logistics of housing and feeding the machine that consisted of two Human Resources pounding out the miles, and ensuring that there was plenty of updates and status Communications with Stakeholders along the way.

Like many projects that Project Managers lead in their work lives, the schedule was long and many times it was difficult to see the that the small steps were chipping away at the big goal fast enough to accomplish the milestones needed to achieve completion. The key to success was in the constant adjustments that had to be made along the way. The team had a slow but steady pace and some said they wouldn’t make it. Weather was a factor. Seasons changed. Life happened while the team was away from home. When times were rough, the team had to be motivated, focused, and encouraged to continue moving along the path. In a true study of determination, perseverance, staying the course, and following solid project management principles, the journey was successfully completed, safely and within schedule.

Join us as one of our ETPMI team members recants this journey! And NOTE – this month’s meeting is on Wednesday evening, due to venue availability.

Kelly Conway is a senior project manager with Management Solutions, LLC with more than 30 years of program, project, and portfolio management experience and success managing both commercial and government projects, as a contractor and directly for the Department of Energy and the Tennessee Valley Authority.

And please remember!

This month launches the revised registration applicable to our Board, members and guests.

All registrations are to be paid in advance by PayPal, credit or debit card. The “Pay at the Door” option will no longer be available.

Registration will end COB 2 business days before the meeting (for a Thursday meeting, registration would close COB Tuesday).

Registrations can be cancelled with full refund no later than one week (5 business days) before the meeting. All cancellations beyond this deadline will result in forfeiture of the payment.

Harry Bailey, VP Programs

Paul Larson, Director Programs

Fee: members: $15, non-members: $20

ETPMI Members must first log into website to receive member registration rate.